Nailing the groove
With
Paddy MilnerPaddy Milner breaks down the rumba-based groove behind 'Tipitina', showing how the two hands lock together to nail its Latin-tinged New Orleans feel.
What's in the course
40 lessons (2h 57m) · 1 free
01. Overview
1:08
02. Performance
3:02
03. Form and Introduction - Professor Longhair Octaves
4:45
04. Form & Feel
5:22
05. Right hand
2:30
06. Turnaround Ideas
2:59
07. Solo Section Ideas
4:16
08. Nailing the groove
You are here4:00
09. Making it funkier
Free lesson7:56
10. Towards a latin feel
1:42
11. Straight against swung & Harmonic Variations
5:46
Lesson transcript
Exploring the Rumber Rhythm
Let's look at this rumber idea and see the things we can do with it, because there's plenty to explore.
Basic Feel of the Rumber
- This is a more basic feel on the rumber.
- Although it is already one step removed, we've added some little skips, which make it more of a two-handed thing.
Advancing to Cuban Territory
If you take it one step further and play something like this, we're really getting into that slightly more Cuban territory:
- The left hand is slightly offset.
- We're playing between the two hands.
Eighth Notes and Groove
- It's all about eighth notes (quavers) that come together on that last eighth note, which again is a really important beat in the feel and the groove.
- The rhythm simply goes between those two harmonies.
Putting It All Together
So if we apply that over the sequence, we get something that sounds a bit like this:
- Let's put that feel over the sequence.
- I'll play some other little linking passages that work with the feel, so you can hear it over the whole sequence: three, four... and so on.
Practicing the Feel
First of all, I really urge you to get to grips with that kind of feel:
- Always think about that accent where they come together.
- Focus on that moment before it hits the downbeat.
Getting Comfortable
- Get that feel under your fingers.
- Start slowly at a tempo that's comfortable for you.
Remember, these kinds of accents and feels are not necessarily the most intuitive unless you grew up in Cuba or New Orleans.
40 lessons
2h 57m of structured video lessons
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Meet your guru
Meet your guru
Paddy Milner is recognised as one of the leading blues piano players in the world - he is currently keyboard player of choice for Sir Tom Jones, following several years with the late, great Jack Bruce - but he is also a superb original songwriter and a distinctive singer. Just read the praise from the likes of Dave Brubeck below! His playing was featured on the soundtrack for the hit 2019 film 'Rocketman'.
He has twice won the award for Best Keyboard Player in the British Blues Awards, and he holds a long-standing residency as a founder member of the Ronnie Scott's Blues Explosion at the world-renowned Ronnie Scott's club.
His current group LONDONOLA plays homegrown British music with a strong dose of New Orleans spirit, and his collaborative group JAWBONE goes from strength to strength following the release of their self-titled debut album.
- "I love it... there's a guy who can really play the piano" - Dave Brubeck
- "I highly recommend it. Somehow things start to feel much better!" - Jack Bruce
- "The best blues piano player in Europe..." - Blues Access, USA
- "Impressive & original" - The Times
- "Dazzling" - The Independent
Across his courses, Paddy breaks down authentic blues shuffle, slow blues, boogie-woogie, rock 'n' roll and New Orleans piano - right down to three classic boogie-woogie songs - so you can learn these styles from one of the very best in the business.
